Legal Assistant

Beltrami County is creating an eligibility list for a full-time benefited Legal Assistant to work in the County Attorney's Office. The successful applicant will be responsible for preparing paperwork for bringing a case to court, typing, answering phones, maintaining department files, greeting the public and other general assistant duties as apparent or as assigned. Work is performed under the supervision of the Office Manager, County Attorney, and assigned attorneys.  

Candidates should possess excellent computer skills, outstanding organizational, communication and time management skills, and be able to work cooperatively with all staff.Education and Experience
Minimum requirements are:

• Associate’s degree as a paralegal, legal assistant or administrative assistant. 
  OR

• A substitution of education and work experience may qualify: Four years of related work experience in legal assistance, paralegal, or administrative assistance may be substituted for an Associate’s degree.

       AND

• One year or more of clerical experience, typing, and transcription at a minimum of 65 WPM.  
• Strong computer skills, including knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, and other common software.

Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Provides legal administrative support services to County Attorney's Office; prepares, types, and proofs legal documents; maintains case files and records.
• Prepares in-custody files for assigned attorney; prepares print and electronic records; researches prior criminal history; reviews reports to determine involved law enforcement, victims, and witnesses; requests additional information from appropriate law enforcement entity; pulls warrant and violation files for arraignment; requests and receives appropriate law enforcement and legal signatures; enters file data into court, state, and local databases.
• Prepares non in-custody files for assigned attorney; opens criminal file; transcribes complaints and petitions; prepares, follows up, and closes diversion files; works with human service agency for child protection holds; follows up with attorney to continue or release holds.
• Opens civil files for assigned attorney; prepares, serves, and files documents in coordination with all parties; obtains documents and required signatures; maintains lists of cases; prepares and files required notices, reports and accountings.
• Monitors court calendar system to determine hearing dates and times; provides discovery to opposing parties in a timely manner. 
• Transcribes file briefs; reviews and proofs all reports, forms, and legal documents; files with appropriate court.
• Maintains court file systems; opens files, updates, and close files.
• Performs office administrative duties; answer and screen calls; respond to or refer questions; notarize documents; assists attorneys with document and electronic file retrieval; investigates software and hardware issues; picks up and distributes mail.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of legal office practices, procedures, equipment and secretarial techniques; thorough knowledge of departmental functions, organization and policies; thorough knowledge of legal terminology and spelling; thorough knowledge of specialized software and databases; ability to organize and perform work independently; ability to lay out and type complex forms and tables; ability to operate standard office, data entry and word processing equipment; ability to type, take and transcribe dictation at a reasonable rate of speed; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, attorneys, court and law enforcement personnel, and the general public.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands and fingers in repetitive motions, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).Special Requirements

• Employment offer contingent upon successfully passing drug screening and background check.

Salary : $25 - $32